“Bum?” Dante offered.
“Gluteus maximus?” Tighe said.
“Getalong?” Jace chimed in.
They turned to stare at Jace.
“You know, like when you have a hitch in your getalong?” Jace said. “Jeez, tough crowd.”
“Ass,”
Ash said, “Galen, your wife shot Uncle Wolf in the ass, and you’re just going to have to get ahold of yourself. It’s a kick in the pants, but you’ll survive.”
They all burst out laughing, as if it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard.
Galen collapsed on a sofa, shaking his head at the family he’d raised on his own. “I don’t want to get hold of myself. She bound and gagged Wolf before we left, before I even realized what she was doing. And then she whispered something to him, and I’m pretty certain she wasn’t inviting him to have tea and cupcakes with her one day.” Galen drew a deep breath, wiped his brow where it itched from the seven stitches the doctor had put in. “Rose roped him like she was at a calf catch, and I was so astonished I couldn’t move.”
“Shouldn’t have been moving, anyway,” Ash said. “The doc said you have three broken ribs. Did the best you could, letting us drag you out of that cave. Had to have hurt like hell.”
“That’s not the point! The point is that my wife shot and bound the man who’s been trying to kill our parents for years!” He got up, paced to a window. “Do you understand that Rose’s life is now forever forfeit?” He looked around at his suddenly somber family. “And my children’s?”
Jace got up, clapped him lightly on the back as he poured himself a drink. “Nothing will happen. We won’t let it.”
“You think that.” Galen looked out the window into the darkness. Knowing now what was out there, lurking. Waiting. “I didn’t think I’d ever get attacked.”
“How did that happen, anyway?” Tighe asked.
He sighed, feeling a bit stupid. “I had my mind on Rose. I was thinking about Riley, wondering if he could come home for Christmas.” Galen stared down at the glass in his hand. “I was thinking about the blessings that have come my way this year, and I was praying for just one more—and then I got hit. The next thing I remember is being in the cave. I can’t even tell you where the entrance to it is, because I didn’t come to until I was being kicked awake by two of Wolf’s men. I recognized Rhein, and the other guy we saw in Montana, but I don’t know his name.”
“Poor brother,” Ash said, and came to give him a gentle hug that wouldn’t hurt his ribs. “I’m sorry I teased you about Rose shooting Wolf’s bony hindquarters.” She winked at him. “We know this is a serious situation. We’ll protect Rose with our lives.”
His brothers murmured agreement. “I know,” Galen said. “I know you’d do your best. But what I’m trying to say is that this is a test I don’t want to try to pass anymore.”
Chapter Seventeen
Rose looked up when Galen walked into the den in her father’s house, and held up baby Ross to show him the new Christmas jammies their son was wearing. “Fiona said some of the ladies at the Books’n’Bingo Society made these,” she said with delight, helping Ross model his new red velour pj’s with a Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer embroidered on the front. “You can’t believe the Christmas wardrobe the ladies made our three little guys.”
Galen took Ross in his arms, and she picked up little Mack. “Nice stitches on your face. What other party favors did Wolf’s crew give you?”
“Not many. It’s not as bad as it looks.”
“Yeah, it is.” She felt the sturdy layer of wrapping beneath his ribs. “No holding babies for you,” she told him, setting Mack down again and taking Ross back. “Dad! Can I borrow you for a minute?”
“I can hold my own sons,” Galen said.
“Not for a while.” Rose gestured him to a chair in front of the fireplace. “Sit, and I’ll get you some coffee.”
Mack came in the room and scooped up little Mack, who’d let out a few opinions at being abandoned while his brother continued to be held. “Now, now, little fellow,” his grandpa said. “My namesake’s clearly not going to be the quiet, retiring bookworm in the family. Come on, let’s go find something tasty for me, and a bottle for you. Hey, Galen, nice work on your face.”
Mack drifted out of the room, not bothered at all by Galen’s sudden reappearance, and Rose smiled. “He’s been awesome,” she murmured. “A rock.”
Galen nodded, but didn’t reply.
So she didn’t say another word. Clearly, he was still annoyed with her, and there was nothing she could do about that. She wouldn’t change a thing she’d done, so he was just going to have to work himself out of his mood.
“I want you to go away,” Galen said at last. “Surely now you understand what’s at stake.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Rose sat down with Ross and began to feed him. “I’m waiting on Riley to come home, and we’re having Christmas right here.” She smiled down at the baby and stroked his cheek. “He’s growing so fast.”
“Yes,” Galen said, “and the thing is, moving—”
“I went to the hospital to see Riley,” she announced, not caring that she interrupted her husband’s soliloquy. She wasn’t going to leave Tempest. And when she was ready to live back at Rancho Diablo—once Riley came home—she was going to do that, too. “He’s such a handsome boy. I’ll have all my sons home for Christmas, I just know it.”
“Yes, about Christmas—”
“It’s not going to do you any good to keep harping on me going away. I’m not going to do it,” she told Galen.
“For the safety of the family, you’re going to have to. I’m thinking maybe Australia would be a good option. And I’m willing to send Mack along.”
She glared at her husband. “Australia! Clear around the world just because I shot your uncle?”
“Not only did you shoot him, I think you threatened him, although you haven’t shared that conversation, and I doubt you ever will.”
She shrugged. “We didn’t say much of interest.”
“I’m positive you weren’t whispering pleasantries in his ear.”
She turned away. “The children and I aren’t leaving you. In fact, once Riley comes home from the hospital, we’re moving back to Rancho Diablo.” She refused to look at Galen; the hurt was too great. “I didn’t expect thanks for getting you out of that underground tomb, but I didn’t expect you to be hysterical about it, either.”
“Rose—”
She put up a hand to stop his words, turned back around. “Galen, I did what I had to do. You do what you have to do.”
Then she went to find her father, to ask him to take her and the babies Christmas shopping.
There
was
going to be a Christmas—no matter what Cowboy Scrooge thought.
* * *
A
S
BAD
AS
THINGS
WERE
between him and Rose—and he didn’t think she planned to forgive him anytime soon for bringing up the idea that she and the babies would be safer elsewhere—he was comforted by the fact that at night, she still curled up against his back.
He was thankful every day of his life that he’d married Rose. She couldn’t understand that she had to leave to keep herelf and their sons safe. He’d begun to plan their new home, looking into a place in Canada for his family, since she’d protested about going to Australia. He didn’t tell Rose of his plans—but eventually, he was going to explain to her that Wolf would never forgive her for what she’d done. The price on her head would be great; just thinking about it made his stomach cramp hard.
What she couldn’t understand was that Wolf and his men—and the cartel—had been after the Callahans for so long that one little Rose wasn’t going to stand in their way. She’d stabbed a knife into a nest of snakes, and they would come after her.
He decided to enlist Running Bear to help him explain the matter to his wife. If anybody could draw her a clear picture of the situation, it was his grandfather.
The chief could explain the mission. Galen really needed Running Bear’s help, because the very idea of Wolf harming his wife or children evoked a fear he couldn’t walk with any longer. He felt it tearing at his marriage, but he was caught between an unforgiving rock and an unending hard place, and try as he might, he couldn’t see a compromise.
* * *
G
ALEN
TOOK
HIMSELF
BACK
to Rancho Diablo for two reasons: first, his darling wife refused to acknowledge his presence during daylight hours, which was killing him. He wanted her to see the matter his way—and he wanted her to love him again, the way she used to, with her sunny smile and her ready laughter that always seemed to be just for him.
That was pretty much a no-go with Rose at the moment.
Second, duty called at Rancho Diablo. So days, he worked the ranch. Nights, he’d watch the babies, even if his sweet wife gave him a wide berth. She called it giving him space until they worked things out.
He thought that translated to “give you your space until you come to your senses.”
There really was no way to meet in the middle, because they both saw what had happened through different prisms. He was hoping time would give them clarity.
That was the plan—until Running Bear came to see him late one afternoon.
“Hello, Grandfather.”
Running Bear nodded. “Seven stitches, seven Chacon Callahans.”
Galen felt his forehead. “I never thought about it that way, but I guess I should be glad my parents didn’t have twelve kids, huh?”
A crinkle appeared around Running Bear’s eyes. “How do you feel?”
Lousy. He hated squabbling with his significant other. The bodily aches and pains were nothing compared to the hole he had in his soul. Rose liked to lie in bed with him and stroke the tattoo he had on his shoulder—the lightning bolt all his siblings had, symbolizing their unbreakable bond.
Rose didn’t stroke anything of his anymore.
“I feel fine,” Galen said. “Things will heal in a week or two.” The ribs would take the longest. “Wolf’s henchmen took me because they thought they could beat out of me where our parents are.”
“You told them nothing.”
“I have nothing to tell.” Maybe their parents weren’t even alive anymore. Running Bear might be shielding him and his siblings from another truth. It was hard to know with their grandfather. Sometimes Galen thought he’d go hunt his parents up—but then he’d put that fantasy away just as quickly. He didn’t want to lead the cartel right to them.
“One day,” the old chief said. “One day you will see them again. For now, be glad you married a woman you can be proud of. She is your true mate, the other half of your heart.”
“She scares me.”
Running Bear nodded. “I know. Carlos said the same about Julia.”
“Did he?” Galen turned to look at his grandfather.
“A man wants to protect his woman. Of course, he was always afraid. But Julia did what she knew was right. Same as Molly, same as Fiona. And now Rose.”
“Wolf will try to kill her. Rose says she only shot him with a .22, that the bullet was barely bigger than a peanut and certainly thinner. That Wolf was just being a crybaby, rolling around and squawking. She didn’t aim for his legs because she didn’t want to hit a femoral artery, and figured aiming for his fleshy bits was safest.” Rose had even factored in a back pocket wallet, just in case. Chills ran over Galen. “She won’t leave Tempest, either, and says she’s coming right back here once Riley comes home.”
“Do you know that Rose’s mother died when she was very young?” Running Bear studied him. “She was always with Mack, who raised her like he would have a son. Rose has been hunting since she was small, can skin a deer faster and better than most men. Can cure the meat and cook it, catch a fish and clean it, and is trained in all things necessary for survival.”
Galen rubbed his chin. “You’re not making me feel a whole lot better.”
“You have heard that before Mack was a sheriff—he was a Texas Ranger. When his wife died, he moved to Tempest to get away. But before he was a Ranger, he was a jarhead in Nam. That’s what he calls it. The blood of a warrior runs thick in Rose. She never thought twice about wounding Wolf. She knew it was the only way the two of you were getting out of that hole alive.” Running Bear pointed to an eagle swooping majestically overhead. “If she’d meant to kill him, she would have done so, Galen. Rose has excellent marksmanship.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to hear any more. I want to know that my wife is at home knitting and taking care of my children. That’s what she should be able to do, Grandfather. What normal wives do.”
Running Bear pointed to the eagle again. “What do you see?”
“I see freedom,” Galen said, watching the eagle return to its high aerie. “I see a fierce spirit.”
“That’s right,” the chief said. “Do not speak words from fear. Speak only the truth you’ve always known.”
Galen gazed at the eagle for another moment, absorbing the amazing sight of the great bird in harmony with the sky and the wind and the sun, before realizing his grandfather had disappeared.
Leaving him with only his words, as usual.
Galen got up to leave the canyons, and was surprised to see Somer riding toward him. He waited until she pulled up alongside him.
“Galen,” she said, “got a minute?”
He nodded. “Sure.”
“I want to thank you for speaking up on my behalf.”
Galen shook his head. “I had nothing to do with it. That was all Rose. She insisted.”
Somer looked sad. “I would never hurt her father. I think it’s amazing that she trusts me enough to have you speak on my behalf.”
Galen sighed. “My wife’s pretty amazing. Thanks.”
“She is.” Somer slid off her horse so she could walk with him toward the main house. “Galen, I know who attacked Mack.”
He looked at her. “Who?”
“Well, I don’t know who, exactly. I don’t know his name. But I can tell you he had a bad scar on his face. I’d know him again if I saw him.”
A scar. There was only one man around with a remarkable facial scar, and that was Wolf’s sidekick, Rhein. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. I ran across him one day when I was riding. I always exercise Gray in the afternoon when I’m off, in the morning when I’m not—”
“I know, I know,” Galen said impatiently.
“And yesterday a man rode alongside me and mentioned that he was a reporter. There have been a few of those around,” Somer said, and Galen nodded. “We’re not supposed to give them any information, but what I thought was odd about this man was that he knew lots of details. Said he’d been talking to one of the neighbors, and I realized he meant Bode Jenkins, not Uncle Storm. But then it hit me that Bode has three Callahan granddaughters, and he wouldn’t talk to anyone.”
Bode was tough. The Callahan cousins had briefed Galen and his siblings about their gritty neighbor, told them if they ever needed anything, they could call on him. Every once in a while, Bode stopped by to chat with his ranch neighbors, but none of the Chacon Callahans would have known any significant details, much less mentioned them.
“What details did he know?”
“This was the giveaway for me,” Somer said. “The man with the scar knew that Rose had been alone in the house that night. Even I didn’t know if Rose was in Tempest or Rancho Diablo when Uncle Storm sent me out there to help Sawyer.” She looked as if she wanted to cry. “Uncle Storm said that there were bad people everywhere and that he didn’t want Sawyer guarding your property alone. That he’d never forgive himself if something happened to your family because of him.” Tears filled her eyes now. “It’s not an easy thing to know that you fired on your own cousin.”
Friendly fire happened. No one liked to admit it, but Galen had been in the military long enough to know that things happened on occasion that no one liked. He shook his head, thinking about the tangled tale Somer was telling. “Rhein knew Rose was at home alone?”
“He asked me, as he was pretending to be a reporter, why you were rarely in Tempest with her.” Somer wiped at her eyes. “I said I didn’t know anything, and he said it was common knowledge that Rose was alone the night the attack happened on your place, and that somehow it was all related to what’s going on here now at Rancho Diablo.”
Anger fired deep inside Galen. “Why are they picking on Rose?”
“Because it worked,” Somer said. “They got you, didn’t they?”
He blinked. “Yeah. Actually, they did.”
“No one knew where they took you. Only Rose figured it out. You would have been long gone and never found, if she hadn’t,” Somer pointed out. “They had a perfect plan.”
She was right. And only he had the information they wanted.
“That means Rose is still a target. A prime target.” Not just because she’d shot Wolf, but because she was the only one who’d gone against Grandfather’s direct instruction that no one was to harm the man. Rose was a Callahan, but not subject to the same rules. If Wolf could get her, things would become ugly fast. Pain hit Galen in the gut as he realized how he’d let his stubborn pride argue with his sensible wife.